FFs Critically Injured in NM Fireworks Blast

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A fireworks explosion seriously injured two Roswell firefighters who had to be airlifted to a trauma center in Lubbock, Texas, with life-threatening injuries Wednesday, state officials announced.

“One individual, as of Wednesday night, was in critical condition; the other was in stable condition,” the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the governor’s office announced in a media advisory.

Ten other firefighters were treated for minor injuries at the scene. New Mexico State Police said the Roswell firefighters were packaging fireworks for the city’s Fourth of July display when the explosion occurred at the Roswell Industrial Air Center just after noon on Wednesday.

“All we know is that there were 12 firefighters inside the building working at (the) time,” State Police Capt. Lance Bateman told a news conference.

The Roswell Fire Department was the first on the scene following the blast, arriving within “one to two minutes,” Bateman said. State Police and the Roswell Police Department also assisted. It took about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and FBI are assisting with the investigation while the state Fire Marshal had someone en route to the scene Wednesday afternoon.

“We’ll find out what happened later,” Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh said. “Right now the focus is on treating and caring for our injured firefighters and their families.”

“Please keep them in your prayers,” he said.

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©2019 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.)

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